Swakop trade fair draws near

Four years after starting in a tent at the Swakopmund municipality’s parking lot, the Swakopmund International Trade Expo (SWAITEX) has become a permanent fixture on the Erongo Region’s events calendar.
Organised by the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) Swakopmund branch since 2013, the event will once again take place at the Swakopmund Indoor Sports Centre (The Dome), between 13 and 15 October. In line with the organisers’ goals of expanding the fair’s scope and importance, this year’s event will introduce a car show, to be hosted in the glass tent hall next to the main hall.
Over the past four years, the SWAITEX has received strong support from the mining, tourism, transport, medical, commercial and retail trade industries.
Other areas where participation is expected this year include the SME sector, sports, wine and décor, catering, construction and entertainment.
The television network CNBC Africa will cover the event and promote it to the larger African market.
Last year’s expo had 248 exhibitors. The organisers hope this number will reach at least 330 this year.
“As we approach SWAITEX 2016, bigger and better is our motto,” the NCCI Swakopmund branch said.
“More stakeholders will be brought on board from multiple industries who haven’t participated before, such as infrastructure, medical and the financial sector. In addition, the car show that will be featured in a glass tent will be a great crowd puller,” the organisation said.

DENVER ISAACS